Train

Earn Real Rank

Courses

The GMAU Courses include all videos teaching the white to black belt curriculum, new weekly classes, anywhere access, instructor support, and an easy to follow training path for home study success.

Shotokan Karate

Average Time to Black Belt

2-4 years

Instructor Certification

Yes, certification course made available once you reach brown belt.

Key Benefits

Total body conditioning/fitness, understanding of the traditional Japanese arts, self defense through perfective repetitions, and a total self improvement/self-discipline.

Founder

Gichin Funakoshi

Weekly Time Commitment

Recommended 3 hours

GMAU Shotokan Karate is a comprehensive training series which covers all techniques, katas, one steps, and self defense from white to black belt in this ancient art. Each and every technique is demonstrated from multiple angles, explained in detailed, and taught with follow-along instruction. Whether you are a white belt getting started in your training, or an experienced student, you will benefit from Master Hodge’s dynamic instruction and guidance. You will earn real rank (up to black belt) as you train at home through this true distance training course.

Shotokan Karate

Krav Maga

Ultimate Bo

Instructors

Global Martial Arts University Instructors have taught thousands of classes in their own academies, and have years of experience working with distance training students through using a very uniquely detailed and concise level of communication, feedback, guidance, and motivation.

Michael Hodge

Ultimate Bo

About

Michael Hodge is the founder of the weapons style Ultimate Bo. Michael has been studying the martial arts since age seven and has earned a 3rd degree black belt in shotokan karate and song moo kwan. He has taught thousands of classes as an instructor in his own dojo, and his father’s dojo in the last 10 years, and now currently works with his home study students from around the globe. His goal is to help others reach their full potential.

Jon Hodge

Shotokan Karate

About

Jon Hodge currently holds the rank of 6th dan black belt in shotokan karate and song moo kwan. He has taught martial arts for nearly 20 years. Over the years Master Hodge has studied many different forms of martial arts and is also a Master Chi Kung and Tai Chi instructor. Master Hodge is well known as a teacher of self defense, self discipline, and most importantly to him – self improvement.

Michael South

Krav Maga

About

Michael South is a black belt Krav Maga instructor and has been a student of the martial arts for over ten years. He also holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. He began teaching martial arts professionally eight years ago and is the founder of National Martial Arts, an Oklahoma-based martial arts organization dedicated to making the world a better and safer place. He specializes in Krav Maga instruction and is an avid student of BJJ at the moment, as well as a competitor.

Dustin Koppel

Krav Maga

About

Dustin Koppel has been involved in the martial arts for more than a decade now, and teaching for 8 years. He began with Krav Maga and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Two years later he got involved with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a competitor, he has won kickboxing championships in the light and super heavyweight categories. Currently, he runs a top martial arts school in Tennessee, along with training his global Krav Maga distance training students.

About Us

Take a moment to learn about the history of our association, online university, and unique way of approaching learning martial arts at home.

Helping Our Students Be Their Best

The GMAU is on a constant quest to improve our courses, instruction, website, and experience for you. We only exist to help our students reach their goals.

The GMAU is the golden standard for at-home martial arts instruction.

We’ve been working with global distance training students since 2008. This has led us to creating cutting-edge home study courses that actually work.

Our instructors, courses, and standards are held to the highest standards – so that you receive the highest quality training experience possible.

Rank Earned is Internationally Accredited and Recognized

The Global Martial Arts Association, member instructors, and affiliated schools back your rank and certification.

Rank is earned, not given.

We uphold the same standards (if not higher) for our online home study students.

Rank is recognized by the Global Martial Arts Association, which is an internationally accredited organization of martial arts instructors, students, and schools.

Spread Abundance by Doing Martial Arts

We believe in serving and spreading abundance for the best and highest good of all.

The Abundance Projects

Each month, a significant portion of our proceeds go to The Abundance Projects. This is a positive-action initiative which we have undertaken for the best and highest good of everyone.

The primary goal is to motivate martial artists to become leaders in their community, and create “abundance projects” which are based in the mindset of prosperity, rather than lack or disparity.

What Our Students Are Saying

"With Ultimate Bo, I can train whenever I find it convenient—early mornings, after the children are put asleep—anytime. It also saves me travel time to the dojo in city traffic, which means I can invest more time in training. I find Ultimate Bo’s methodology clear and easy to follow, and it is more than just learning self-defense; the techniques, when put together into a full kata form, create a graceful form of art, not to mention a rigorous workout, particularly when performed in rapid succession."

John Balouziyeh
Ultimate Bo

"Training in Total Krav Maga has really opened my eyes to a new love. It’s so simple yet so technical. I can’t get enough of it and I already train for 6 hours a week! All the videos are done very well and it’s great to know that an instructor is just an e-mail away"

David Wright
Krav Maga

"The training material is good, the exams aren’t easy…you really need to earn a rank/belt. It is no fake MCdojo :). I can train where and whenever I have the time. I just took the yellow belt exam and received a 25 minute long personal video from Sensei Jon reviewing my material."

Laurens van der Sande
Shotokan Karate

The more often and higher intensity you train, naturally, the quicker you can move through a program.

Contact Us

Need to contact us? Expect a speedy and knowledgeable response time within 30 minutes to four hours Monday through Friday (9-5 pm central). One of our Head Instructors (Michael Hodge, Jon Hodge, Dustin Koppel, or Michael South) will reply to you directly. On the weekends expect a response in 24-48 hours. Want to chat with us? Leave your phone number in the message below with a good time to call back.